Summary

  • UN report says crimes against humanity committed in Eritrea

  • Eritrea rejects report

  • Nigerian football legend Keshi dies at 54

  • His family says he died of a cardiac arrest

  • South Sudan leaders propose truth commission

  • Political rallies banned in Tanzania

  • Get Involved: #BBCAfricaLive WhatsApp: +44 7341070844

  • Email stories and comments to africalive@bbc.co.uk - Wednesday 8 June 2016

Live Reporting

Clare Spencer and Damian Zane

  1. UN reports accuses Eritrea of enslavement, torture and rape

    In its report on the human rights situation in Eritrea the UN's Commission of Inquiry has said the Security Council should refer the country to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

    In its introduction it says:

    The commission has reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity, namely, enslavement, imprisonment, enforced disappearance, torture, other inhumane acts, persecution, rape and murder, have been committed in Eritrea since 1991."

    The Eritrean government has rejected the criticism and said the commission "ignored Eritrea’s significant achievements in political and civic rights".

    Eritrea parade

    The report complained of indefinite military conscription

    Read more form Eritrea here.

  2. Keshi was 'outspoken'

    BBC Focus on Africa's Peter Okwoche has been remembering the late Stephen Keshi who he met on a number of occasions.

    Peter told BBC World News that he was not afraid to speak out and was forthright in his view that African coaches were not treated with the same respect as European ones.

    He felt he fell victim to this when he coached Togo when they qualified for the 2006 World Cup, but was replaced by a German before the tournament began.

    Stephen KeshiAFP

    Keshi coached Togo between 2004 and 2006

  3. Keshi was 'in discussions with Orlando Pirates'

    An African football website has claimed that former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was "in discussions" with South Africa's Orlando Pirates near to his death.

    He died last night of a heart attack, aged 54.

    His agent Tim Sukazi told Africanfootball.com that previous reports that he was joining Orlando Pirates were untrue but that the idea was a "work in progress".

    Read more on the African Football site

  4. Error of over $2bn on Mozambique - Malawi rail plans

    A journalist in Mozambique has spotted a humongous error:

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    Macau Hub reports that the investment is intended to increase its capacity to transport coal mined. 

  5. Hundreds of thousands 'enslaved' in Eritrea

    A panel of UN human rights investigators has said that hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have been enslaved in unending national service.

    The head of the inquiry Mike Smith told a press conference in Geneva:

    We probably think there are 300,000 to 400,000 people who have been enslaved."

    Eritrea has rejected the UN report calling it politically motivated.

    Eritrean officials are currently giving their response at a press conference in Geneva which you can see here.

    Eritrean at press conferenceUNTV

  6. Tuaregs' version of reggae is called Tuareggae

    Tuareg musician Bombino has been inspired by Jamaican reggae music to create a whole new genre of music - Tuareggae. Have a listen:

    Bombino, aka Omara Moctar, is from Niger -  8,933km (5550 miles) from the birthplace of reggae music, Jamaica.  

    But he told BBC Newsday that his people in the desert have nothing to do with reggae culture but still like it.

  7. 'Keshi was a born leader'

    Football's world governing body Fifa has paid tribute to the late Stephen Keshi.

    Its obituary has described him as "a born leader".

    He took games by the scruff of the neck and dictated matches from his position of influence as captain."

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    The head of the Confederation of African Football Issa Hayatou has also paid a "glowing tribute" who described him as a "jewel" in the Nigerian football family.

  8. 'Keshi was an African legend'

    Nigerian sports journalist Sulaiman Folarin has been looking at the achievements of Stephen Keshi who has died at the age of 54.

    He said that he blazed a trail for Africa as well as Nigeria.

    Folarin told the BBC's Newsday radio programme: "As I'm talking to you my voice is trembling... to hear that he has gone is really sad." 

    Listen to more of the interview:

    Keshi won the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach

  9. 'Mr President we were very stingy, here's $5m'

    Sammy Awami
    BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam

    A woman has her finger inked after casting her ballot at a polling station during the presidential and parliamentary election in Ubungo ward in the Kinondoni district of Dar es Salaam, October 25, 2015Reuters

    The October election used the ink method to guard against fraud

    The Tanzanian Electoral Commission (TEC) has returned $5m (£3.4m) to the state after it wasn't spent during last year’s general election.

    TEC Chairman handed over a cheque to President John Magufuli.

    He insisted that the election ran smoothly without the money:

    Mr President, we were very stingy yet very diligent in our duties. So this surplus shouldn’t mean that our work was compromised anyhow.”

    TEC Chairman Damian Lubuva

    President Magufuli called the gesture patriotic:

    You could have easily kept all this money and claim that you spent it all. Or even say that it wasn’t enough. And nobody would have questioned it”

    He has directed the money to be used in construction of the electoral commission’s offices.

  10. Keshi remembered around the world

    The late Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi is being remembered around the world.

    Chelsea have tweeted their condolences:

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    The Confederation of African Football has tweeted:

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    And one fan has been moved to quote Shakespeare:

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  11. Sit back and relax on Uganda's newest 'beach'

    A BBC reporter in Uganda has noticed a new beach concept:

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  12. UN report on Eritrea is an 'attack against Africa'

    We've already posted some Twitter reaction from Eritrea's information minister to the damning UN human rights report on the country.

    The Commission of Inquiry (COI) said that the situation in Eritrea should be referred to the International Criminal Court.

    In a statement, the Eritrean government said the COI "has no solid evidence or firm legal basis to support its extreme and unfounded charges".

    It called the report "politically motivated":

    [The recommendations] are an unwarranted attack not only against Eritrea, but also Africa and developing nations. [The government] calls on members of the Human Rights Council and all UN member states to uphold justice and fairness and to end a long train of injustices against the Eritrean people."

    Isaias Afewerki

    Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki says the West's generous asylum polices are weakening the country

    Read more from Eritrea here

  13. South Africa survives another junk status downgrade

    Milton Nkosi
    BBC Africa, Johannesburg

    RandGetty Images

    If ratings agencies give a country 'junk' status, investors aren't allowed to by their bonds

    South Africa has survived another junk status downgrade as ratings agency Fitch maintained its stable outlook for the country, but said the low GDP growth in Africa's most industrialised country posed a risk:

    The 'BBB-' rating reflects low trend GDP growth, significant fiscal and external deficits, and high debt levels, which are balanced by strong policy institutions, deep local capital markets and a favourable government debt structure."

    Fitch ratings agency

    South Africa has just published its latest figures showing that Gross Domestic Product turned negative to the tune of 1.2% in the first quarter of this year, compared to growth of 0.4% in the last quarter of 2015. 

    The slump in commodity prices was the main culprit as mining output fell by 18%.

    Rating agencies use different systems involving a long list of letters:

    • A top mark is AAA or Aaa
    • Down to BBB or Baa3 is also safe
    • BB or Ba1 down to C is speculative - or "junk"

    Read the BBC News explanation on ratings agencies.

  14. 'Keshi was a shining star'

    Stephen Keshi, who has died at the age of 54, had success as a player and coach with Nigeria, but he also coached Togo when they qualified for the their first World Cup in 2006.

    He also took Mali to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The head of the African Union has been paying her own tribute:.

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    South Africa's sports minister has added his tribute:

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  15. Eritrea reject UN report on systematic torture

    Eritrea's information minister has rejected the UN report claiming (Commission of Inquiry or COI) that crimes such as rape, torture, murder, enforced disappearance and enslavement have been going on in the country since 1991 (see our earlier post):

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  16. UN: 'Systematic crimes against humanity in Eritrea'

    Mary Harper
    Africa editor, BBC World Service

    A United Nations Commission of Inquiry has found what it describes as widespread and systematic crimes against humanity being committed in Eritrea. 

    The commission - appointed by the UN Human Rights Council - says the violations have been going on since Eritrea became independent in 1991. 

    The commission says the crimes against humanity include torture, rape, murder, enforced disappearance and enslavement. 

    One man says his testicles were crushed by repeated beatings. 

    Women trying to flee Eritrea describe sexual abuse by border guards, including of a five-year-old girl. 

    The commission recommends the UN Security Council refers the situation to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. 

    It says it has identified individuals who bear responsibility for the crimes, and will pass their names on to the relevant institutions in due course. 

    Eritrea has described the report as null and void. 

    Asmara street

    Eritrea recently celebrated 25 years of independence

  17. Keshi 'elevated the African brand'

    Africa Live page readers have been paying tribute to Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi who has died at the age of 54.

    Very shocking news of the death of the legendary Keshi. We loved him here in Kenya since he elevated the African brand. His contribution to football will provide a benchmark for current and future football players, coaches and administrators. We remember his family at this sad moment. RIP boss."

    Nicholas Nzioki, Nairobi, Kenya

    The pain is not on the day our dear ones pass. The pain is really when you realise you have to live without them. We will miss our great football icon. You will forever be in our hearts. RIP great icon of football.

    Shadrach La'ah Augustine, Ghana

    Goodbye to the Big Boss. We know he has gone to be reunited with his dear wife."

    Ifeanyi Obi, Lusaka, Zambia

    If you want to pay tribute WhatsApp us on +447341070844.

    Stephen KeshiAFP

  18. Keshi: Nations Cup winner as player and coach

    Stephen KeshiGetty Images

    Stephen Keshi, who has died of a heart attack aged 54, was only the second person to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.

    He was part of the Super Eagles team (pictured right) when it won the cup in Tunisia in 1994 after beating Zambia 2-1 in the final.

    Stephen Keshi in the rightGetty

    And in 2013, Keshi was Nigeria's coach when the Super Eagles beat Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final of the Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Stephen KeshiAFP

    Egypt's Mahmoud el-Gohary is the other African who won the Cup of Nations as both coach and player.

  19. EgyptAir makes 'bomb threat landing'

    EgyptAir planeAP

    An EgyptAir plane flying from Cairo to Beijing has been forced to make an emergency landing in Uzbekistan due to a bomb threat, Uzbekistan Airways says.

    All 118 passengers and 17 crew on board the Airbus A330 were evacuated at Urgench International Airport, in the east of the country, a statement said.

    There has so far been no comment from EgyptAir on Wednesday's incident.

    But Egyptian officials told the Associated Press news agency that an anonymous caller had telephoned security agents at Cairo's airport to say a bomb was on board the flight to Beijing.

    Read more on the BBC News website.

  20. 'Football has lost one of its legends'

    Here are more tributes to the former Nigerian football coach Stephen Keshi who died overnight:

    A Nigerian sports pundit thanks him:

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    A South African sports presenter can't believe the news:

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    A sports presenter in Kenya also pays tribute:

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    And Kenya's football federation has tweeted:

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